A system for operation in a motor mode comprises a cryocooler to cool a superconducting coil of a rotor. The system further comprises a flux pump to provide flux to the superconducting coil to produce-a persistent current. Also, the system comprises a main stator coil. An alternating current within the main stator coil generates a rotating magnetic field, which interacts with the persistent current to generate an electromagnetic torque to rotate the rotor. The system also comprises a control stator coil to generate a current at a non-superconducting coil of the rotor. In one or more embodiments, a magnitude, phase, and/or frequency of the rotating magnetic field of the main stator coil and a magnetic field of the non-superconducting coil is varied in comparison a magnitude, phase, and/or frequency of the rotating magnetic field produced by the main stator coil alone to control a speed of the rotor.